The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-01-13

The committee appointed to notify the
governor that the senate had completed
its organization reported that they had
performed their duty.
The governors message was then re-
ceived and on motion of Senator Harrison
it was read as follows:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF TEXAS,
AUSTIN, January IL, 1887
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representa-
For the fourth time have the honor and pleas
uTe of communicating with the chosen representa-
tives of the people on mattere pertaining to the
general veal of the commonwealth. In doing so
take pride in welcoming you to the capital, and
feel confident that the wise cOnsid ration you will
give the questions coming before you, coupled with
your knowledge of the inetiiciency of many of the
laws now ON our statute books, will enable you to
promptly PISS such measures rs the needs of the
public demand, and the circumstances of each case
call for.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
The present rate of taxation may be regarded ade
quate for general purposes OF course, i'll case OF
large and costly improvements in the way of pub
lie institutions. such have been effected in the
last four years and the erection of u new asylum
for the insane-nOne of which can he Classed as
current or usual expenses the present rate would
not be sufficient. For all ordinary purposes, how
ever, it will be found equal to our needs, and VIII
produce the necessary pvenue to meet every obi.
u
German 10 this subject, it is proper to remind
you that under the Jaws as they now exist there s
no mode by which collectors and accounting Off
GERS can tell how much school fund and how much
general Revenue has been collected until close of
fiscal year, As consequence the comptroller can
arbitrarily 8ppOTtiOn some from the general
monies placed in his hands, and oftentimes make
the separation or div sion without reference to act
ual facts. The comptroller should not he charged
with this duty, because he has nothing to guide
him. nder the present condition of tQings he
may deposit to the school or general revenue &C
cordng 10 his best judgement or csprice, and thus
augment or diminish eitherfuna by simple stroke
of the pen.
There Is ALEC custom now prevailing of money
going into the hands of the comptroller, which il
in direct violation OF the spirit and letter of the
constitution Our form of government provides
for hut one custodian of the peoples money after
it is paid over by the county collectors and that
custodian ls-t treasurer of the state, To cor
rect this abuse TIL comptroller should merely be
charged with making settlements and Issuing de-
post warrants corresponding with ssne, hut the
money in every instance should he paid directly to
the treasurer.
Again repeat that there is great inequality in
the payment vt taxes in this state There are too
many ways by which large wealth avoids its just
burden of government, especially in regard To the
irregular assessment of property. The loos~ meth
DDS often accepted under this heading screens the
rich from bearing their honest respo siblities and
imposes on the middle classes a proportion of
taxes greatly in excess of their righttul burden.
During portion of the past tour years taxation
has been reduced from twenty-five ('2) TO se,e =
teen and half ~ cents on the dollar The
government was enabled to get along on this small
revenue by using or borrowing certain special
funds that were in the treasury. and which for
years had been lying idle, drawing no interest
whatever for the Institutions to which they be-
lunged. These moneys were withdrawn from cir
cuaion: they lay in the Treasury vaults as much
dead capital; they were unprodlctiye and unproft-
able, and therefore, when the state was called upon
To meet Extraordinary expenditures, and cope with
emergencies for which no provision had been made
there were only two ways left open, namely-eitber
To increase the general taxation on the Ueopl-, or
borrow from the idle wealth which had been so
long shut up, seemingly for ornamentafion rather
than use. | suggested the latter course, and what
has been the resulti These special funds that had
heen locked away and were earRing nothing, are
now drawing per cent. interest for the
institutions To which they are cred.